Identification of Personality Differences among Various Swimming Ability Groups by Sex. Final Report. CORD Project.

Davis, Michael G.; Stewart, Charles W.

This study investigates 16 personality factors and their relevance to the swimming proficiency of physical education students at Wisconsin State University-River Falls. Two instruments, a swimming skills test and the Cattell Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire, were utilized. The major hypotheses tested include: (1) there is no difference between swimmers and nonswimmers on 16 primary personality factors and 7 composite second order factors; and (2) there is no difference between male and female swimmers on these same personality dimensions. A review of the relevant literature, the methodology, findings, and conclusions are reported extensively. Statistical analysis indicates few personality differences between swimmers and nonswimmers but a number of differences between the sexes. The concluding discussion focuses on the implications of these findings for the teaching of swimming. (TL)